Alsea

For other uses, see Alsea (disambiguation).

Alsea
Total population
1774: 3,060 1806: 1,700 1875: 1,800 1961: 12 2010: 7
Regions with significant populations
Oregon
Languages
Alsea
Religion
Very little is known about Alsea religion. It is thought to be similar to that of the Coos
Related ethnic groups
Yaquina

The Alsea were a Native American tribe of Western Oregon. They are probably extinct, although a few members may be mixed in with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, many of whom live on the Siletz Reservation, where the remaining members were relocated.

Name

The name "Alsea" comes from /alsíiya/, the name applied to the Alseas by their neighbors, the Tillamook and Coos peoples.^[1]

Kûnis'tûnne, Chastacosta name. Päifan amím, Luckiamute Kalapuya name. Si ni'-te-li tunne, Naltunne name, meaning "flatheads." Tcha yáxo amim, Luckiamute Kalapuya name. Tehayesátlu, Nestucca name.^[2]

Geography

The Alsea lived on the western coast of Oregon, around what is now Alsea Bay at the mouth of the Alsea River.

Villages

Chiink, on the south side of Alsea River.
Kakhtshanwaish, on the north side of Alsea River.
Kalbusht, on the lower course of Alsea River.
Kauhuk, on the south side of Alsea River.
Kaukhwan, on the north side of Alsea River at Beaver Creek.
Khlimkwaish, on the south side of Alsea River.
Khlokhwaiyutslu, on the north side of Alsea River.
Kutauwa, on the north side of Alsea River at its mouth.
Kwamk, on the south side of Alsea River.
Kwulisit, on the south side of Alsea River.
Kyamaisu, on the north side of Alsea River at its mouth.
Panit, on the south side of Alsea River.
Shiuwauk, on the north side of Alsea River.
Skhakhwaiyutslu, on the south side of Alsea River.
Tachuwit, on the north side of Alsea River.
Thlekuhweyuk, on the south side of Alsea River.
Thlekushauk, on the south side of Alsea River.^[2]

"Mooney (1928) estimates the number of Indians belonging to the Yakonan stock at 6,000 in 1780. The census of 1910 returned 29 Indians under this name, and that of 1930 only 9 under the entire Yakonan stock."^[2]

Culture

The Alsea hunted seals and sea lions, and fished for salmon. Like many tribes in the area, they flattened the heads of infants.

Language

Alsea was an Alsean language very closely related to Yaquina. By 1910, it was almost extinct, with fewer than six people having a speaking knowledge of the language.^[3]

Religion

Very little is known about Alsea religion. It is thought to be similar to that of the Coos.

Arts

The Alsea wore robes of seal skin, wove baskets and made grass raincoats.

References

↑ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
1 2 3 John R. Swanton (1953). The Indian Tribes of North America. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin. 145. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
↑ Frachtenberg, Leo (1920). Alsea texts and myths. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. p. 243.

Native peoples of Oregon history

Topics	Central Kalapuya language Chinookan Longhouse Northern Kalapuya language Oregon Penutian languages Salishan languages Shastan languages Thunderbird Wapato Western Oregon Indian Termination Act Yoncalla language

Events	Bridge of the Gods Kalapuya Treaty Cayuse War Potlatch Missoula Floods Rogue River Wars

Places	Fort Clatsop Celilo Falls Mount Mazama

People	Alsea Atfalati Bannock Cayuse Chetco Chinook Clackamas Clatsop Coquille Coos Kalapuya Klamath Klickitat Latgawa Modoc Molala Multnomah Nez Perce Northern Paiute Santiam Shasta Siletz Siuslaw Takelma Tillamook Tolowa Tututni Umatilla Umpquat Wasco/Wishram

Oregon history	Native American peoples of Oregon history History to 1806 Pioneer history Modern history

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